Lyon, John. Mr. Lyon was born in Scotland, and emigrated to this country about the commencement of the present century. He shortly thereafter entered into the employ of the late Wm. Hamilton, and, for several years, superintended his choice collection of exotic plants at the "Woodlands." Mr. Lyon subsequently became a regular collector of American plants and seeds for exportation, and in the prosecution of his object made frequent excursions to the south and west. His collections were usually congregated at the Nursery grounds of his friends at Philadelphia, and, when properly prepared, were by him taken to Europe. He made a number of trips to England, each time carrying with him large lots of our native plants, which met with ready sale at liberal prices. Thirty or forty years ago the communication with Europe was not so trifling a matter as at present, and a journey of some thousand miles in search of floral treasures, and their transportation across the Atlantic, was quite an event in the horticultural world.

Mr. Lyon was a man of cultivated mind, and, to a good plain education, such as most of his countrymen receive, he had added the results of extensive reading and observation.

He died about the year 1S16, whilst on a collecting journey in Tennessee, from fever contracted by exposure whilst travelling on horseback.